Spinning-top.



G. H. L. SCHNEIDER.

SPINNING TOP APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4. l9l4.

Patented July 25, 1916.

GEORGE HENRY LOUIS SCHNEIDER, OF CLINTON, MISSOURI.

SPINNING-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed June 4, 1914. Serial No. 843,018.

in which a novel and amusing optical effect is produced when the same is rotated.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a top of the above-mentioned class in which a novel color arrangement is produced during the rotation of the top.

Another object of my invention resides inthe provision of a rotatable frame, in the present instance a disk having a weighted periphery, and a plurality of colored disks mounted for rotation thereon, said colored disks being provided with a plurality of different colors, said colors adapted to blend when the disks are rotated, thereby producing the color effect.

A still further object of my invention .is to provide a means for rotating the disks, and also a means for initially imparting rotary movement to the frame.

Other objects of my i come apparent when a more thorough understanding of the same is attained.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a top embodying the improved form of my invention, and in which the shaft or spindle has been broken away so as to show the pinion. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a retarding Wing for use in connection with my,

invention.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the various views of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in the preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a shaft 1, said shaft being provided with a head 2, said head serving as a handle. The head 2 is provided with a transverse slot 3, the object of the same being set forth hereinafter.

The shaft 1 is provided intermediate its ends with a pinion 4, said pinion 4 being in engagement with the toothed edges of a plurality of disks 5, 6, 7 and 8, said disks 5, 6, 7 and 8 being mounted for rotation I the same.

nvention will beon a frame 9, rivets 5 serving as journals for particular form, it will be readily understood that any other suitable form of spindle or journal could be used. /Vashers 6, shown more clearly in Fig. 2, serve as a means to space the disks 7 and 8 from the upper surface of the frame 9, thereby preventing undue friction between the undersurface of the disks 7 and S and the upper surface of the frame 9. It is preferable that the frame 9 be substantially circular in contour, said frame being provided with a weighted periphery 10 to assist in the rotation of the lVhile I have shown rivets in this same, and give to the frame 9 a gyroscopic action.

A means is provided for initially rotating the said frame 9 on the shaft 1, which in the present instance comprises a hollow drum 11', said drum 11 having the upper end of the same rigidly secured at the point 12 to the frame 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The lower end of the drum 11 is provided with an annular flange 13, said flange 13 being provided with a cut-out portion 14 serving as a means for the insertion of a cord or string, notshown.

To guard against longitudinal movement of the frame 9 upon the shaft 1, I provide a collar 15, said collar being secured in place by a removable pin 16.- The pinion 4 is sweated to the shaft 1, or otherwise secured, and prevents the movement of the frame 9 in that direction on the shaft 1. Gear teeth 17 are provided on the. peripheries of the disks 5, 6, 7 and 8, said teeth being adapted to engage with the teeth of the pinion 4:, thereby providing a means for rotating the disks. As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the disks 5, 6, 7 and 8 are arranged in sets, and the adjacent peripheries of one set overlap the adjacent peripheries of the other set, as shown clearly at the points 18.

The upper surfaces of the disks '5, 6, 7 and 8 are provided With a plurality of colors, said colors in the present instance being arranged in narrow bands or circles 19 around the spindle or shaft 1', the said-rings of color being described from the shaft 1 as a center. As will be readily seen in Fig. 1, these bands of colors 19 are discontinued at the periphcry of each disk, only an arc of the same being described on the said disks. The lower end of the shaft 1 is provided with a point, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to prevent movement of the same when placed in position on a table or other support for operation.

In operation, a string or cord is fastened in the cut-out portion 14 of the drum l1, and the free end of the same is Wrapped around the body portion of the drum it. The toothed edges 17 of the disks 5, 6,

7 and S are in engagement with the pinion 4 mounted on the shaft 1, and when the frame 9 is rotated in the manner above de scribed, the disks will rotate therewith, being in engagement with the pinion 4 on the shaft 1, and will be. caused to rotate relative to the frame 9. The rapid rotation of the disks 5, 6, 7 and 8 will cause the colors on their surfaces to blend, thereby producing a novel and amusing color effect, which color effect, may be changed by the simple substitution of different-colors. It is preferable that the shaft 1 shall be held stationary, but this is not absolutely necessary, as a wing, 3, of pasteboard or other suitable material may be inserted in the transverse slot 3 of 'the head 2, this structure being shown to advantage in Fig. 4, the wing being shown in operative position. The use of the wing 3 when inserted in the slot 3 will, owing to the air resistance, act upon the shaft and limit the speed of its rotation.

While I have shown and described my invention as using teeth on the peripheries of the disks 5,6, 7 and 8, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the disks may be rotated by friction, but it is preferable that gear teeth be used as it insures a positive rotation of the disks and prevents the same from getting out of synchronism.

I reserve the right to make certainaninor changes in the detailed construction of my invention which shall not depart from the scope and spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. In a spinning top, a shaft, a frame having a weighted periphery mounted for rotation on said shaft, means carried by said frame and in engagement with the shaft to produce a color effect, and means detachably associated with the upper end of said shaft for controlling the rotation of the latter to effect a change in the color effect produced.

2. In a spinning top, a frame rotatably. mounted upon a shaft, and a plurality of for rotation on said shaft, colored disks rotatablymounted on said frame, and means on said shaft and in engagement with said disks for rotating the same.

6. In a spinning top, a shaft, a frame having a weighted periphery rotatably mounted thereon, colored disks arranged upon and mounted for rotation on said frame, the adjacent portions of the respective peripheries of each disk adapted to overlap the peripheries of the adjacent disks, the peripheries of eachdisk being operatively engaged with the shaft, whereby to cause a blending of color when the disks are rotated.

7. In a spinning top, a shaft, a frame hav-- ing a weighted periphery mounted for rotation on said shaft, means carried by the frame and in engagementwith the shaft to produce a color efiect when the frame is rotated', and a wing carried by the shaft to retard its movement to effect a change in the color produced.

8. In a spinning top, a shaft, a frame having a weighted periphery mounted for rotation on said shaft, means carried by the frame to produce a color effect comprising a plurality of rotatablymounted disks having their respective peripheries overlapping and in engagement with the shaft, each of said disks'having a plurality of segmental bands of various colors, said bands of color having as a central point the longitudinal axis of the shaft, rotation of said frame causing intersection of the'segmental bands of color to cause the same to blend and produce a color effect.

9. In a spinning top, a shaft, a frame rotatably mounted thereon, a plurality of colored. disks within the frame, and means on a shaft in engagement therewith for imparting rotary motlon to said disks when the frame is rotated.

.4 In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY LOUIS SCHNEIDER.

Vitnesses:

T. L. JONES, Gno. J. I'IOLLIDAY.- 

